Diepoxides, processes for their manufacture and use

ABSTRACT

The new diepoxides couple good mechanical properties with a significantly higher heat distortion point according to Martens than the known epoxidised diacetals of similar constitution, in which the acetal groups are interrupted by an alkyleneoxyalkylene chain instead of by an alkylene chain which is free of ether oxygen.   Diepoxides manufactured by epoxidation of diacetals or diketals from Delta 3-cyclohexene-1,1-dimethanol or its homologues and dialdehydes or diketones which apart from the two aldehyde groups or keto groups only contain hydrocarbon radicals, for example the diepoxide of the formula

United States Patent 1 Batzer et al.

[451 Sept. 18, 1973 DIEPOXIDES, PROCESSES FOR THEIR MANUFACTURE AND USE [75] Inventors: Hans Batzer, Arlesheim; Juergen l-labermeier, Allschwil; Daniel Porret, Binningen, all of Switzerland [73] Assignee: Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland 22 Filedz Feb. 8, 1971' [21] Appl. No.: 113,717

[52] US. Cl 260/3401, 260/2, 260/304, 260/45.8, 260/830 [51] Int. Cl C07d 15/04 [58] Field of Search 260/3407 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,423,429 [/1969 Metzger 260/3407 Primary Examiner-Alex Mazel Assistant Examiner-James H. Turnipseed Attorney-Harry Goldsmith, Joseph G. Kolodny and Mario S. Monaco [57] ABSTRACT Diepoxides manufactured by epoxidation of diacetals or diketals from A -cyclohexene-l,l-dimethanol or its homologue's and dialdehydes or diketones which apart from the two aldehyde groups or keto groups only contain hydrocarbon radicals, for example the diepoxide of the formula on,- o-cH, iv

groups are interrupted by an alkylene-oxyalkylene chain instead of by an alkylene chain which is free of CH: H t

ether oxygen.

5 Claims, No Drawings 1 DIEPOXIDES, PROCESSES FOR THEIR MANUFACTURE AND USE The subject of the present invention are new diepoxides of the formula wherein R,, R R,,, R,, R,,, R,,, R and R,,, R,', R R R R R R, and R, denote monovalent substituents, such as halogen atoms, alkoxy groups or aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals, preferably lower alkyl radicals with one to four carbon atoms or hydrogen atoms, and wherein R, and R or R, and R, can together also denote an alkylene radical, such as a methylene group, X and X each denote a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical, such as, especially, an alkyl radical with one to four carbon atoms, or together form an alkylene radical, especially a dimethylene radical or trimethylene radical, and Z denotes a divalent aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical, preferably an alkylene radical, and n denotes the number l or 2.

Particularly easily accessible compounds are the diepoxides of the formula The new diepoxides of the formula (I) or (II) can be:

manufactured if, in a compound of the formula wherein the radicals R, R,,, R, to R,,', X, X, Z and n have the same meaning as in formula (I), or in a compound of the formula wherein the radicals R, R", R', X,, X,', Z, and n have the same meaning as in the formula (11), the C=C methods, preferably with the aid of organic per-acids,

such as peracetic acid, perbenzoic acid, peradipic acid, monoperphthalic acid and the like; further, mixtures of H 0 and organic acids, such as formic acid, or nitriles, such as benzonitrile, or acid anhydrides, such as acetic anhydride or succinic anhydride, can be used. Hypochlorous acid can also serve as the epoxidising agent, in which case, in a first stage, HOCI is added onto the double bond, and, in a second stage, the epoxide group is produced under the influence of agents which split off HCl, for example strong alkalis.

The acetals or ketals of the formulae (ill) or (N) can, again, be manufactured in a known manner by acetalisation or ketalisation of a dialdehyde or diketone of the formulae X-C-- Z n L |u-1 1| 0 0 I r x,-c-Z1 c-xv ll L .in-l o I) with a dialcohol of the formula Rz\ /R| /0 CHiOH R3C 0 n 0111011 R,C\ 0-H, C R1 R5 R8 (VII) or of the formula 011 CH:OII no 7 CIh-OII iI(:\ 11 -lt' (Int w (VIII) The acetalisation can take place according to methods which are in themselves known, such as, for example, by heating the aldehydes or ketone of the formulae (V) or (VI) together with the dialcohol (VII) or (VIII) in the presence of an acid catalyst, such as, for example, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid or p-toluenesulphonic acid.

As dialdehydes of the formulae (V) or (VI) there may be mentioned: glyoxal, succinodialdehyde, glutarodialdehyde, adipodialdehyde, pimelodialdehyde, suberodialdehyde, sebacodialdehyde, ndodecane l ,l2-dial, terephthalaldehyde and isophthalaldehyde.

As diketones of the formulae (V) or (VI) there may be mentioned: 1,2-diketones, such as biacetyl, acetylpropionyl, bipropionyl, bibutyryl, biisobutyryl, benzyl, furyl and acetylbenzoyl; l,3-diketones, such as acetylacetone, propionylacetone, butyrylacetone, valerylacetone, pivaloylacetone, l-cyclohexyl-l,3-butanedione, 5 ,S-dimethyl-l ,3-cyclohexanedione, l-phenyl-l ,3- butanedione and l-phenyl-l,3-pentanedione; 1,4- diketones, such as 2,5-hexanedione, 2,5-octanedione,

2,5-decanedione, 2,5-dodecanedione, 3 ,6- dodecanedione, 2,5-octanedecandione and 1 ,4- cyclohexanedione.

Further possible starting products of the formulae (V) or (VI) are also ketoaldehydes, such as methylglyoxal.

Possible dialcohols of the formulae (VII) or (VIII) are, for example: 1, 1 -bis-( hydroxymethyl cyclohexene-(3), l,l-bis-(hydroxymethyl)-6-methylcyclohexane-( 3 I, l -bis-(hydroxymethyl)-2,4,6-trimethyl-cyclohexene-(3 l, l -bis-(hydroxymethyl)-2,5- endomethylene-cyclohexene-( 3) and l ,1 -bis- (hydroxymethyl)-4-chloro-cyclohexene-( 3 The new diepoxides according to the invention, of the formulae (I) or (II), react with customary curing agents for polyepoxide compounds and can therefore be crosslinked or cured by adding such curing agents, analogously to other polyfunctional epoxide compounds or epoxide resins. Possible curing agents of this nature are basic compounds or acidic compounds.

As suitable curing agents, there may for example be mentioned: heterocyclic amines, such as lmethylimidazole or Z-methylimidazol; Lewis acids, such as phosphorus pentafluoride, and boron trifluoride and its complexes with organic compounds, such as BF -ether complexes and BF -amine complexes, for example the BF -monoethylamine complex; acetoacetanilide-BF -chelate; polybasic carboxylic acids, and in particular, above all, tetracarboxylic acids, such as pyromellitic acid or estercarboxylic acids containing four carboxyl groups, for example the estercarboxylic acids obtained from 4 mols of a dicarboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid anhydride, for example succinic acid or hexahydrophthalic anhydride and 1 mol of a tetrahydric alcohol, such as pentaerythritol, or the estercarboxylic acids obtained from 2 mols of a tricarboxylic acid anhydride, such as trimellitic anhydride, and I mol of a dihydric alcohol, such as triethylene glycol or tetraethylene glycol.

Preferred curing agents are the anhydrides of polybasic carboxylic acids, for example phthalic anhydride, A-tetrahydr0phthalic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride, 4-methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride, 3,6- endomethylene-A-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, methyl-3,6-endomethylene-N-tetrahydrophthalic anhy- 4 dride methylnadic anhydride), 3,4,5,6,7,7- hexachloro-3,6-endomethylene-N-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, succinic anhydride, adipic anhydride, azelaic anhydride, sebacic anhydride, maleic anhydride and dodecenylsuccinic anhydride; pyromellitic anhydride; or mixtures of such anhydrides.

In curing the diepoxides according to the invention with anhydrides, it is appropriate to use 0.5 to l.l gram equivalents of anhydride groups per 1 gram equivalent of epoxide groups.

Optimum properties of the cured products are as a rule achieved on using approx. 1 equivalent of anhydride groups per equivalent of epoxide groups.

Curing accelerators can furthermore be employed in the curing reaction; when using polycarboxylic acid anhydrides as curing agents, suitable acelerators are, for example, tertiary amines, their salts or quaternary ammonium compounds, for example 2,4,6-tris- (dimethylaminomethyl)-phenol, benzyldimethylamine, 2-ethyl-4-methyl-imidazole, 4-amino-pyridine or triamylammonium phenolate; and also alkali metal alcoholates, such as, for example, sodium hexanetriolate.

The term curing", as used here, denotes the conversion of the abovementioned diepoxides into insoluble and infusible, crosslinked products, and in particular, as a rule, with simultaneous shaping to give shaped articles, such as castings, pressings or laminates and the like, or to give sheet-like structures, such as coatings, coverings, lacquer films or adhesive bonds.

Depending on the choice of the curing agent, the curing can be effected at room temperature (18 to 25C) or at elevated temperature (for example 50 to C).

The curing can, if desired, also be carried out in two stages, by first prematurely stopping the curing reaction, or carrying out the first stage at only moderately elevated temperature, whereby a curable precondensate which is still fusible and soluble (a so-called B-stage") is obtained from the epoxide component and the during agent component. Such a precondensate can for example serve for the manufacture of prepegs," compression moulding compositions or sintering powders.

The diepoxides according to the invention, of the formulae (I) or (II), can also be used in mixtures with other curable diepoxide or polyepoxide compounds. As such, there may for example be mentioned: polyglycidyl ethers or poly-(B-methylglycidyl) ethers of polyhydric alcohols, such as polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols, 2,2-bis-(4'-hydroxycyclohexyl)-propane or l,3-di-( Z-hydroxy-n-propyl )-5 ,S-dimethylhydantoin; polyglycidyl ethers or poly-(B-methylglycidyl) ethers of polyhydric phenols, such as 2,2-bis-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-propane diomethane), 2,2-bis-(4'-hydroxy- 3 ,5 '-dibromophenyl)-propane, bis-( 4-hydroxypheny1)-sulphone, 1,1 ,2,2-tetrakis-(4-hydrophenyl)- ethane or condensation products, manufactured in an acid medium, or formaldehyde with phenols, such as phenol novolacs or cresol novolacs; polyglycidyl esters or poly-(B-methylglycidyl) esters of polycarboxylic acids, such as for example phthalic acid diglycidyl ester, isophthalic acid diglycidyl ester, tetrahydrophthalic acid diglycidyl ester or hexahydrophthalic acid diglycidyl ester, triglycidyl isocyanurate, N,N'-diglycidyl-S,5- dimethylhydantoin, l-glycidyl-3-(2- glycidyloxypropyl)-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and aminopolyepoxides such as are obtained by dehydrohalogenation of the reaction products of epihalogenohydrin and primary or secondary amines, such as aniline or 4,4-diaminodiphenylmethane; further, alicyclic compounds containing several epoxide groups, such as vinylcyclohexene diepoxide, dicyclopentadiene diepoxide, ethylene glycol-bis-(3,4- epoxytetrahydrodicyclopentadien-8-yl) ether, (3,4- epoxycyclohexylmethyl)-3,4-epoxycyclohexanecarboxylate, (3,4'-epoxy-6'-methylcyclohexylmethyl)- 3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexanecarboxylate, bis-(2,3-epoxycyclopentyl) ether or epoxycyclohexyl)-2,4-dioxa-spiro-(5,5)-9,lepoxyundecane.

If desired, known reactive diluents, such as, for example, styrene oxide, butyl glycidyl ether, isooctyl glycidyl ether, phenyl glycidyl ether, cresyl glycidyl ether, or glycidyl esters of synthetic, highly branched, mainly tertiary aliphatic monocarboxylic acids (CARDURA E) can be used conjointly.

A further subject of the present invention are therefore curable mixtures which are suitable for the manufacture of shaped articles, including two-dimensional structures, and which contain the diepoxides according to the invention, optionally together with other diepoxides or polyepoxides and also curing agents for epoxide resins, such as, especially, polycarboxylic acid anhydrides.

The diepoxides according to the invention, or their mixtures with other polyepoxides and/or curing agents can furthermore be mixed, in any stage before curing, with customary modifiers, such as extenders, fillers and reinforcing agents, pigments, dyestuffs, organic solvents, plasticisers, flow control agents, agents for conferring thixotropy, flameproofing substances or mould release agents.

As extenders, reinforcing agents, fillers and pigments which can be employed in the curable mixtures according to the invention, there may for example be mentioned: coal-tar, bitumen, textile fibres, glass fibres, asbestos fibres, boron fibres, carbon fibres, cellulose, polyethylene powder and polypropylene powder; quartz powder, mineral silicates, such as mica, asbestos powder or slate powder; kaolin, aluminium oxide trihydrate, chalk powder, gypsum, antimony trioxide, ben- .tones, silica aerogel (AEROSIL"), lithopones, baryte, titanium dioxide, carbon black, graphite, oxide pigments, such as iron oxide, or metal powders, such as aluminium powder or iron powder.

Suitable organic solvents for modifying the curable mixtures are, for example, toluene, xylene, n-propanol, butyl acetate, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, diacetonealcohol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, monoethyl ether and monobutyl ether.

As plasticisers for modifying the curable mixtures it is, for example, possible to employ dibutyl, dioctyl and dinonyl phthalate, tricresyl phosphate, trixylenyl phosphate and polypropylene glycols.

As flow control. agents when employing the curable mixtures, especially in surface protection, it is possible to add, for example, silicones, cellulose acetobutyrate, polyvinyl butyral, waxes, stearates and the like,(which are in part also used as mould-release agents).

Especially for use in .the lacquer field, the diepoxides can further be partially esterified in a known manner with carboxylic acids, such as especially higher unsaturated fatty acids. It is furthermore possible to add other curable synthetic resins, for example phenoplasts or aminoplasts, to such lacquer formulations.

The curable mixtures according to the invention can be manufactured in the customary manner, with the aid of known mixing equipment (stirrers, kneaders, rolls and the like).

The curable epoxide resin mixtures according to the invention are above all employed in the fields of surface protection, the electrical industry, laminating pro cesses and the building industry. They can be used in a formulation adapted in each case to the particular end use, in the unfilled or filled state, optionally in the form of solutions or emulsions, as paints, lacquers, compression moulding compositions, sintering powders, dipping resins, casting resins, injection moulding formulations, impregnating resins and binders, adhesives, tool resins, laminating resins, sealing and filling compositions, fioor covering compositions and binders for mineral aggregates.

Because of the generally solid state of aggregation of the diepoxides according to the invention, the main use lies in the field of powder resins, such as sintering powders and compression moulding compositions, and in the field of prepregs.

In the examples which follow, parts denote parts by weight and percentages denote percentages by weight, unless otherwise stated. The relationship of parts by 7 volume to parts by weight is as of the millilitre to the gram.

To determine the mechanical and electrical properties of the shaped articles obtained from the curable mixtures described in the examples which follow, sheets of size 92 X 41 X 12 mm were manufactured for determining the flexural strength, deflection, impact strength and water absorption. The test specimens (60 x l0 X 4 mm) for determining the water absorption and for the fiexural test and impact test (VSM 77,103 and 77,105 respectively) were machined from the sheets.

To determine the heat distortion point according to Martens (DlN 53,458), test specimens of sizes 120 X 15 X 10 mm were cast in each case.

Sheets of sizes 120 X 120 X 4 mm were cast for determining the arcing resistance and tracking resistance (VDE 0303). The l percent value of tg6 is the tempera-.

ture at which the dielectric loss factor tg5 exceeds a value of l X 10".

Manufacture of the starting substances.

(Olefinically unsaturated diacetals and diketals).

EXAMPLE A Manufacture of the diacetal from A -cyclohexene-l,l.- dimethanol and glutarodialdehyde.

A mixture of 568 g of A -cyclohexene-l ,1- dimethanol (4.0 mols), 400 g of 50 percent strength aqueous glutarodialdehyde (2.0 mols), 216 ml of benzene and L47 g of toluenesulphonic acid is subjected to an azeotropic circulatory distillation at 120C bath temperature, whilst stirring. The reaction mixture is initially at a temperature of 83C, and water immediately starts to separate. After one hour's reaction time, 124 ml of water have separated and the temperature of the batch rises to 88C. After 2% hours, the bath temperature is raised to about 130C, and in doing so the temperature of the batch gradually rises to l06 107C. After a total of 4 hours, the separation of water is complete, 263 ml being separated (theory 272 ml). The reaction product is filtered, and the filtrate is concentrated on a rotary evaporator at C. A tough, viscous product is obtained in quantitative yield. The

diacetal can be purified by fractional distillation in vacuo. The following fractions are obtained from 699.9 g of the crude product:

Fraction 1: boiling point 0.6 0.2: 20 180C:

first runnings, amount: 28.1 g

Fraction 2: boiling point 035 183 188C: pure diacetal:

Fraction 3: residue: 43.5 g.

The yield of pure material is thus 619.8 g; this corresponds to 89.0 percent of theory. The pure diacetal is a colourless, viscous liquid, which crystallises completely. The melting point is 52 58C. Elementary analysis shows 72.1% C (and 9.2% H) (theory: 72.38% C and 9.26% H).

The infrared spectrum shows, through the absence of OH frequencies at 3,450 cm and through the absence of the carbonyl vibrations at 1,730 cm, that the reaction has taken place as desired. lnstead, the very intense C-O-C frequencies of the acetal groups can be detected at about 1,120 cm", and the C=C absorption is found at approx. 1,650 cm".

The proton-magnetic resonance spectrum (60 Mc HMNR, recorded in CDCl;, at 35C, with tetramethylsilane as the internal standard) indicates the presence of 32 protons (theory 32).

Additionally, the following structural elements are found:

4 protons: 8 5.6 5.8 (multiplet):

2 protons: 8 4.4 4.6 (multiplet):

" Protons: 5=3198 (quartet with 2 5 fine structure): 2 I 78 3. 51 HF 3. 30

18 protons: 6 1.1 2.3 (multiplet): remaining methylene protons. Accordingly, the new diacetal has the following structure:

EXAMPLE B Manufacture of the diketal from A-cyclohexene-l,1- dimethanol and 1,4-cyclohexanedione.

113.6 g of A-cyclohexene-1,l-dimethanol (0.8 mol), 44.7 g of 1,4-cyclohexanedione (0.4 mol), 150 ml of benzene and 0.3 g of p-toluenesulphonic acid are mixed, and this mixture is heated, whilst stirring, until the azeotropic circulatory distillation, as described in Example 1, commences. 13 ml of water have separated after only 30 minutes (90.3 percent of theory). To complete the reaction, circulatory distillation is al lowed to continue for a further 2 hours, whilst stirring. 1n the course thereof, a crystalline precipitate forms. The batch is cooled to 20C and the crystals formed are filtered off. After drying at 60C under 15 mm Hg, 129.5 g of the crude diketal (89.9 percent of theory) are obtained, melting at 187-189C. The product can be purified by recrystallisation from chloroform. Colourless, glossy crystals are obtained, which melt at 187.6-189C. Elementary analysis shows 73.5 percent C and 9.0% H (theory: 73.30% C and 8.95% H).

The proton-magnetic resonance spectrum (60 Mc H-NMR, recorded in CDCl at 35C with tetramethylsilane as the internal standard) proves the structure given below, through the presence of the following signals:

= 5.65 (singlet): 4 protons:

8 3.60 (singlet): 8 protons: 4 X 0 CH 5 1.35 2.25 (multiplet): 20 methylene protons of the cycloaliphatic rings.

EXAMPLE C Manufacture of the diacetal from A"-cyclohexene-l,ldimethanol and glyoxal.

A mixture of 213 g of A"-cyclohexene-l,ldimethanol (1.5 mols), 1 17.5 g of 37 percent strength aqueous glyoxal solution (0.75 mol), ml of benzene and 5.5 g of p-toluenesulphonic acid is heated to 78-104C, whilst stirring. In doing so an azeotropic circulatory distillation commences, as described in Example A. After 75 minutes, ml of water have separated; after a total of minutes, 94 m1 of water have separated (92.7 percent of theory), and the reaction is stopped. The hot reaction mixture is filtered, 200 ml of benzene are added and the whole is cooled. 105.8 g of light ochre-coloured crystals are obtained. The mother liquid is concentrated and a further 108.5 g of a light brown crystallising mass are obtained. Total yield: 214.3 g (94 percent of theory).

The diacetal can be purified by recrystallisation from methanol, ethanol or acetone. From acetone, crystals of melting point 138.4-140C are obtained.

[R and NMR spectra show the presence of the following structure:

A n. i n

EXAMPLE D Manufacture of the diacetal from A"-cyclohexene-1,1- dimethanol and terephthalaldehyde.

284 g of M-cyc'lohexene-l,l-dimethanol (2.0 mols), 141.0 g of 95 percent strength terephthalaldehyde (1.0 mol) and 425 ml of benzene, together with 0.75 g of p-toluenesulphonic acid, are subjected to an azeotropic circulatory distillation at 75-83C, whilst stirring. After 60 minutes, 33 ml of water can be separated off, and after 225 minutes 36 ml of water have separated 100 percent of theory). The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, and in doing so the product crystallises out. It is filtered off and dried to constant weight at 50C under 50 mm Hg. 352.4 g of a pale yellowcoloured crystalline product (92.4 percent of theory) are obtained, the melting point of this crude product being 189193C. It is purified by recrystallisation from 2 litres of dioxane. 312.3 g of colourless crystals, melting at 197.5-199C, are obtained. 7

The infrared spectrum shows, through the absence of OH and C=O frequencies, and through the presence of absorptions for COC, that the desired substance has been produced.

Elementary analysis shows the following:

Found: Calculated: 75.5% C 75.4% C 7.9% H 7.9% H

8 roteins: 8 315 Katmai.

2 protons: 5= 5.42 (singlet) Aromatic radical 4 protons: 8 5.6 5.7 (multiplet):

4 protons: 8 7.50 (singlet) 30 protons (theory 3O protons) EXAMPLE E Manufacture of the diacetal from cyclohexane-1,1- dimethanol and pentane-2,4-dione.

A mixture of 284 g of A -cyclohexene-1,ldimethanol (2 mols), 100 g of pentane-2,4-dione acetylacetone), 108 ml of benzene and 4.5 g of ptoluenesulphonic acid is subjected to an azeotropic circulatory distillation at 1061 14C, as described in Example A. After 4 hours 16 ml of water are separated off, and the separation of water then becomes very slight. After about 20 hours, 18 ml of water are separated off (50 percent of theory). The reaction mixture is filtered and concentrated completely, whereby a brown liquid is obtained. The desired product is separated off by distillation.

The following fractions are obtained: boiling point 0.1 17 53C, first runnings, 20 g boiling point 0.05 58 60C, fraction 1: 109 g (colourless liquid) boiling point 0.1 87 90C, fraction 2: 154 g (liquid with crystalline portion) residue: 61.2 g dark brown resin.

Fraction 2 proves to be a mixture of unreacted A"- cyclohexenedimethanol (melting point 88-91C) and monoacetal.

Fraction 1 is the desired product. The infrared spectrum shows neither OH frequencies nor carbonyl frequencies, but shows the absorptions characteristic for COC. The product thus produced accordingly corresponds to the following structure:

CHzHdC 6 011;

EXAMPLE F A mixture of 6-methy1-A -cyc1ohexene-1,1- dimethanol (2.0 mols), 220 g of 50 percent strength aqueous glutaraldehyde and 112 ml of benzene is subjected to an azeotropic circulatory distillation, whilst stirring, in accordance with Example A); in doing so, the temperature of the heating bath is 134C, and the temperature of the reaction mixture rises from 76 to 86C. 80 ml of water are removed from this circuit over the course of 120 minutes, and separated off. The residue is then cooled to 75C, 1.4 ml of4 N sulphuric acid are added and distillation is carried out over the course of a further 300 minutes at 134-144C bath temperature, with the reaction temperature rising from 86 to 105C; during this time, a further 54 m1 of water are separated off under the conditions indicated. In total, 134 ml of water are thus separated (98.5 percent of theory). The batch is cooled to 30C, diluted with 150 ml of benzene, and filtered. The filtrate is extracted four times by shaking with 100 ml portions of water, and is concentrated to dryness on a rotary evaporator. 422 g of a dark-coloured crude product are obtained.

Found Calculated: 73.4% C 73.4% C 9.4% H 9.6% H

The infrared spectrum (capillary recording) shows, through the absence of COl-l and C=O absorptions and through the presence of the CO-C frequencies at approx. 1 100 cm", that the desired product has been produced. Equally, the protonmagnetic resonance spectrum (60 Mc H-NMR, in CDCl;,) is in agreement with the structure given below:

4 protons: 8 5.50-5.65: multiplet:

2 protons: 8 4.30-4.45: multiplet:

8 protons: 8 3.3-4.1 multiplet:

11 protons:

16 protons in multiplets between 6 1.45 and 3.15: remaining protons Accordingly, the new substance has the following structure:

EXAMPLE G A mixture of 308 g of 2,5-endomethylene-A"- cyclohexene-l,l-dimethanol (2.0 mols) and 200 g of 50 percent strength aqueous glutaraldehyde (1.0 mol) is acetalised analogously to Example F), with the aid of l 12 ml of benzene for forming an azeotrope. The procedure followed as is described under F); after separating off 80 ml of water, 1.4 ml of4 N agueous sulphuric acid are again added as the catalyst. The further reaction is carried out analogously to Example F). On cooling, the desired substance crystallises out. 800 ml of benzene are added, the crystals are dissolved, and the benzene solution is eluted as described in Example F). Working up also takes place in accordance with Example F). A pale yellow crystal powder is obtained in theoretical yield. It can be purified by crystallization from ethanol. The reaction product melts at 1 15-117C. Elementary analysis shows: 74.4% C and 8.6% H (calculated, 74.2% C and 8.6% H).

The proton-magnetic resonance spectrum (60 Mc HNMR, in CDCl;,, against TMS) shows, through the presence of the following signals and their integrations (allocation by trial), that the structure given below is correct:

4 protons: 6.05-6.20: multiplet:

2 protons: 4.30-4.40: multiplet:

2 x g-o 8 protons: 3.40-4.10: multiplet:

C'HZ O 2x0 4 protons: 2.75-3.21 doublet with fine structure 16 protons: 0.5-2.3 in multiplets: remaining protons Manufacture of the diepoxides.

EXAMPLE 1 A mixture of 104.4 g of the crude diacetal manufactured according to Example A (0.3 mol), 62 g of benzonitrile (0.606 mol), 420 ml of methanol and 12 ml of 0.1 M Na l-lPO solution is stirred at 50C. 30 g of 35 percent strength aqueous hydrogen peroxide are then added and a pH of 9.5, determined by means of a glass electrode, is set up with 0.5 N aqueous sodium hydroxidc solution. After 1 hour, u further 24 g of 35 percent strength hydrogen peroxide are added and the pH is continuously kept at 9.5. One hour later, the remaining 16 g of 35 percent strength H O, are added (total thus 0.72 mol). The mixture is stirred for a further 3 hours at 50C whilst continuously checking the pH. In total, 37.3 ml of the 0.5 N aqueous sodium hydroxide solution are consumed. After the indicated time, the content of hydrogen peroxide in the batch has fallen to 0.75 per cent by weight (iodometric titration). The batch is cooled to room temperature, and 400 ml of water are stirred in. This solution is twice extracted with 350 ml portions of chloroform; the chloroform phase is twice extracted by shaking with 300 ml portions of water. Thereafter, the organic phase is concentrated to one-fourth of its volume on a rotary evaporator, at 60C, under a slight vacuum. 200 ml of lowboiling petroleum ether are added and the whole is cooled to C. The residual benzamide which precipitates is filtered off and the solution is completely concentrated on a rotary evaporator at 60-70C. The resin is then dried to constant weight at 60C under 0.1 mm Hg. 98.7 g (86.6 percent of theory) of a clear, pale yellow viscous resin, which gradually crystallises, are obtained. The epoxide content is 4.02 equivalent per kg (76.5 percent of theory). The infrared spectrum shows, through the absence of the C=C frequency at 1650 cm" and through the presence of the absorptions of the oxirane ring, that the product mainly consists of the desired diepoxide of the formula EXAMPLE 2 A mixture of 313 g of the distilled diacetal manufactured according to Example A, 90 g of sodium acetate and 1,200 ml of methylene chloride is stirred at 20C. 317 G of 60.4 percent strength peracetic acid solution in glacial acetic acid are then added dropwise over the course of 3% hours, whilst stirring. The reaction is slightly exothermic, and the temperature of the reaction mixture rises to 28C. After the dropwise addition, the mixture is stirred at 2025C for a further 3% hours. The iodemetrically determined per-acid content of the solution is then less than 1.7 per cent by weight. The reaction mixture is subsequently washed with 12 ml of percent strength aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and thereafter with 800 ml of water. The organic layer is concentrated on a rotary evaporator and then dried at 70C/15 mm Hg. Drying to constant weight is then carried out at 70C/0.1 mm Hg. 335.5 g (98.1 percent of theory) of a colourless, clear and viscous resin are obtained. The epoxide content is 5.06 equivalents per kg (96.2 percent of theory). The resin crystallises completely within a short time.

The new diepoxide can be purified by recrystallisation from ether-acetone. 10 g of the crude product yield 9.7 g of pure, white crystalline product with 5.23 epoxide equivalents per kg (corresponding to 99.5 percent of theory). The diepoxide melts at 77-86C.

The proton-magnetic resonance spectrum (60 Mc HNMR, recorded in CDCl;, at 35C, with tetramethylsilane as the internal standard), proves, through the presence of the following signals, that the new diepoxide corresponds to the structural formula given below.

1. no signals in the range 5.4-5.8; thus, no traces of HC CH remain.

2. intense signal at 3.17 (singlet):

3. further signals:

at 6 10-22: remaining 18 methylene protons A mixture of g (0.25 mol) of the diketal manufactured according to Example B, 25 g of sodium acetate and 375 ml of chloroform is stirred at 20-23C. 88.1 g of 60.4 percent strength peracetic acid in glacial acetic acid (0.7 mol) are added dropwise over the course of 1% hours. 30 minutes thereafter, the reaction mixture still contains 2.45 per cent by weight of per-acid. After a total of 5 hours, the per-acid content declines to below 1.1 per cent by weight; the mixture is then washed with 350 ml of sodium bicarbonate solution and subsequently with 200 ml of water. The organic layer is concnetrated on a rotary evaporator at 60C bath temperature, and is subsequently dried to constant weight at 60C/0.1 mm Hg. 94.7 g of a colourless crystal mass (96.8 percent of theory) are obtained. The epoxide content is 4.92 equivalents/kg (corresponding to 96.6 percent of theory). The substance melts at between 223 and 235C.

The proton-magnetic resonance spectrum proves, through the signals given below, that the structure given below applies (60 Mc HNMR, recorded in CDCl: at 35C with tetramethylsilane as the internal standard). The singlet at 8 5.6 is no longer visible. Accordingly, practically all groups have reacted:

Emma sad 3555 ((161513) O-HgC OH2C 4 protons: 5 315 (singlet) II 0 II 2 C C .20 methylene protons 6=1..Z2.2 in lnult iplets Cllz-O OC1L X 3 crno "5 04ml u EXAMPLE 4 A mixture of 152 g (0.5 mol) of the diacetal manufactured according to Example C, 50 g of anhydrous sodium acetate and 750 ml of methylene chloride is stirred at 1724C. 172.3 g of 61.4 percent strength peracetic acid (1.4 mol) are added dropwise over the course of minutes, with slight cooling. 60 minutes thereafter, 2.5 percent of peracetic acid can still be detected in the mixture. After a total of 6 hours, the peracetic acid content has fallen to below 1.8 percent, and the mixture is worked up. It is extracted by shaking with 680 ml of 10 percent strength sodium bicarbonate solution and subsequently with 500 ml of water, in accordance with Example 3. The organic phase is worked up as described in Example 3. 163.7 g of a colourless crystal mass (97.2 percent of theory), melting at between 158" and 177C, are obtained. The epoxide content is 5.34 equivalents/kg (90.3 percent of theory).

The product mainly consists of the diepoxide of the formula EXAMPLE 5 191 g of the diacetal manufactured according to Example D (0.5 mol), together with 50 g of anhydrous sodium acetate powder, in 796 ml of chloroform, are stirred at C. 173 g of 61.6 percent strength peracetic acid solution in glacial acetic acid are added dropwise over the course of 120 minutes, whilst stirring. The temperature is kept at 2022C by slight cooling. After a total of 240 minutes, the peracetic acid content of the reaction mixture is 1.78 percent. After a further hour, it has declined to below 1.4 percent. The mixture is worked up as described in Example 4. 203.1 g of a colourless crystalline substance (98.2 percent of theory) are obtained. The epoxide content of the product is 4.20 equivalents/kg (87.4 percent of theory). The melting point is above 220C. The IR spectrum shows, through the absence of the C=C absorptions and through the presence of frequencies, that the product substantially has the following structure:

0111- i H o-cm 87 g of the diacetal manufactured according to Example E (0.25 mol) are epoxidised at 20-23C with 86.4 g of 61.5 percent peracetic acid (0.7 mol) in 375 ml of methylene chloride in the presence of g of anhydrous sodium acetate, as described in Example 5. Working up takes place in accordance with Example 4.

86.4 g of colourless liquid of low viscosity, which solidifies after some time to give a colourless crystal mass, are obtained. The epoxide content of the substance is 4.61 equivalents/kg (87.7 percent of theory).

The product mainly consists of the diepoxide of the formula CH1 CH:

EXAMPLE 7 75.2 g of the diacetal manufactured according to Example F (0.2 mol) in 150 ml of methylene chloride are epoxidised, at 2024C, with 70.4 g of 54.0 percent strength peracetic acid (0.5 mol), in the presence of 20 g of anhydrous sodium acetate, as described in Example 5. The working up takes place in accordance with Example 4 and 81.6 g (corresponding to percent of theory) of a clear, pale yellowish, viscous resin are obtained, having an epoxide content of 4.55 equivalents/kg (corresponding to 92.7 percent of theory).

The 60 Mc-HNMR spectrum (in CDCl; at 35C, against TMS) shows, through the following signals (allocation by trial), that the new diepoxide has the structure given below:

protons of product F) are absent 2. 2 protons: 5=4.34.5, multiplet:

4. U protons: 5=0.801.10: multiplet:

5. 16 protons: 6=1.32.9: rnultiplet: remaining protons EXAMPLE 8 149 g of the diacetal manufactured according to Example G) (0.4 mol) in 300 ml of methylene chloride, are epoxidised with 57 percent strength peracetic acid, in the presence of 40 g of anhydrous sodium acetate, as described in Example 5.

The process is carried out at 2730C and the reaction time is 20 hours.

Working up takes place in accordance with Example 4, and 158.6 g (98.1 percent of theory) of a colourless crystal powder of epoxide content 3.35 equivalents/kg (68 percent of theory) are obtained. The product substantially consists of the diepoxide of the following for- Examples of uses.

17 EXAMPLE 1 61.8 parts of the cycloaliphatic epoxide resin manucontent of f06 equivalent s per kg, are mixed at room temperature with 38.2 parts of hexahydrophthalic anhydride and 3 parts of a solution of 0.82 part of sodium metal in 100 parts of 2,4-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpentane. This mixture is stirred at 120C to give a clear, transparent, colourless and homogeneous liquid. The mixture is stirred for a further minutes at 120C and is then poured into thin-walled aluminium moulds (wall thickness approx. 0.15 mm). It is cured in accordance with the following cycle: 5 hours at 120C and hours at 150C. The gelling time of 100 g of this mixture is about 40 minutes at 120C.

Pale yellow, clear, transparent shaped articles are thus obtained, which have the following properties:

flexural strength (VSM 77,103) 10.22 10.51 kp/mm deflection (VSM 77,103) 4.3 5.0 mm

impact strength (VSM 77,105) 12.50 16.10

cmkp/cm heat distortion point according to Martens (DlN 53,458) 170C Water absorption (4 days/C) 0.41%

Breakdown voltage (instantaneous) [VDE 0303] according to French Patent Specification No.

1,268,722, Example 26, having 4.41 epoxide equivalents/kg, is cured analogously to Example 1.

To do'so', a mixture of 60 parts of the abovementioned, known diepoxide, 34.5 parts of hexahydrophtalic anhydride and 2.85 parts ofa solution of 0.82 part of sodium metal in 100 parts of 2,4-dihydroxy-3- hydroxymethylpentane (accelerator) is prepared and is converted into castings as in Example 1. Brown-yellow castings having the following mechanical properties are obtained:

flexural strength (VSM) 9.02 kp/mm deflection (VSM) 3.8 mm

impact strength (VSM) 12.67 cmkp/cm heat distortion point according to Martens (DlN) water absorption (4 days/20C) 0.40

In comparison to the castings from the known diepoxide according to French Patent Specification 1,268,722, those from the diepoxide according to the invention, according to Example 2, show somewhat better flexural and impact properties, and a considerably higher heat distortion point according to Martens.

EXAMPLE 11 Manufacture of sintering powders.

The following adducts are manufactured:

a. 410 g of a diepoxide manufactured according to Example 2, having 4.70 epoxide equivalent/kg (corresponding to 0.96 mol) are fused and stirred at 120C. 97.0 g of sebacic acid (0.48 mol) are added in portions over the course of 30 minutes.

The epoxide content of a sample is then 3.21 equivalents/kg. The reaction mixture is stirred for a further hour at 133138C, in the course of which the epoxide content declines to 1.94 equivalent/kg. The clear, pale yellowish melt is then poured out onto the metal sheets in order to cool. After cooling, a glassy-brittle, easily grindable, clear, solid resin, having an epoxide content of 1.72 epoxide equivalents/kg (corresponding to 90.5 percent of theory) is obtained in quantitative yield. The new, solid epoxide resin has a Kofler softening point of C.

b. Analogously to Example 300.8 g of adipic acid (2.06 mols) are added in portions over the course of 25 minutes to a melt of 1,712 g of the diepoxide manufactured according to Example 2, having 4.83 epoxide equivalents/kg (corresponding to 4.12 mols), at C. Thereafter the mixture is stirred for a further 20 minutes at C. A sample taken from the batch then shows an epoxide content of 2.1 equivalents/kg. The melt is worked up as described in Example (a). The hard, brittle, clear adduct obtained in quantitative yield then contains 1.93 equivalents/kg (corresponding to 94.6 percent of theory). The new epoxide resin has a Kofler softening point of 75C.

The following powder mixtures are manufacture from the two adducts (a) and (b):

7 Powder Powder mixture 1 mixture 2 parts by weight parts by weight Adduct a 300.0 4 Adduct b 300.0 tertiary amine as an accelerator 3.0 3.0 titanium dioxide 75.0 75.0 polyvinyl acetal as a fllmforming agent Mowital B 30 H 3.0 3.0 sebacic acid 52.1 60.6

Epoxide resin Epoxide resin powder 1 powder 2 Kofler softening range and melting range C) 50-78 67-82 gelling time at 200C (seconds) 106 57 Erichsen extensibility (mm) after curing a film of 70-75 1 at 200C (1 hour) 7.0 7.2 tracking resistance (level) (on a sintered sheet after curing for 1 hour at 200C) KA 3h KA 3h-3c The properties mentioned in this example were determined as follows: Softening range and melting range.

A Kofler heating bench (manufactured by Reichert, Austria, Type 7871 having a surface temperature rising continuously from approx. 50C to approx. 250C, was uniformly sprinkled, by means of a small sieve, with the powder to be tested. After 1 minute, the powder which had not stuck by sintering was wiped off with a brush. The lowest temperature point at which the first powder particles adhered was determined as the softening point (or softening range). The transition point from the matt-looking powder which had stuck by sintering to the fused, glossy, droplike material was determined as the melting point (or melting range). Gelling time.

An electrical heating plate (manufactured by Elektro-Physik, Cologne) was thermostatically controlled to i 1.5C. About 0.3 g of the powder to be tested was placed on the heating plate, and a stopwatch was started simultaneously. The fused material was uniformly agitated by means of a spatula. The viscosity increased detachably as curing progressed. The spatula was periodically lifted and thread-pulling was observed.

The point in time at which thread-pulling suddenly stops because of crosslinking and the material becomes a coherent layer, was determined as the gelling time.

Erichsen extensibility (DIN 53,l56).

The known lacquer test for the extensibility of a film, according to Erichsen, was also employed for the powder coatings. Iron sheets (70 X 150 X 0.8 mm) which had been thoroughly degreased with trichloroethylene were uniformly coated at room temperature, by means of an electrostatic powder spraying instrument, with the powder to be tested (particle size less than 100 [1.)1 The electrostatic adhering powder was hereafter stoved in a circulating air oven to give a thin film. After conditioning the coatings at 20C and 65 percent relative humidity, the Erichsen values were determined as the maximum depth of indentation (up to tear formation) in millimetres.

We claim:

1. A diepoxide of the formula wherein R represents a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl, R" and R each represents hydrogen, X and X, each represents a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl with one to four carbon atoms, and Z, represents a carbon to carbon bond or member selected from the group consisting of alkylene with one to 10 carbon atoms, and n denotes the number I or 2.

2. A diepoxide as claimed in claim 1 which is 3. A diepoxide as claimed in claim I which is crn o 0-crn GIL-Cg A 3 H 0111-0 0 cH, H

4. A diepoxide as claimed in claim 1 which is 5. A diepoxide as claimed in claim 1 which is 

2. A diepoxide as claimed in claim 1 which is
 3. A diepoxide as claimed in claim 1 which is
 4. A diepoxide as claimed in claim 1 which is
 5. A diepoxide as claimed in claim 1 which is 